Big win doesn't make campaign a success, says Alun Wyn Jones

WALES star Alun Wyn Jones says the players and management should not allow Saturday’s emphatic 51-3 victory over Scotland to paper over the cracks.

The seven-try win over the 14-man Scots, who had Stuart Hogg sent off after only 22 minutes, ensured that Warren Gatland’s men ended their Six Nations campaign on a high but Jones says defeats in Ireland and England shouldn’t be forgotten.

“We can be happy with three home wins, but obviously we are bitterly disappointed with the two away losses and performances,” said the Ospreys lock.

“Ireland was massively disappointing because we didn't get our game going, then against England we didn't take our opportunities.

“So it was a bit of mixed bag. A few years back we probably would have been happy with three home wins.

“Our ambition is way beyond what we have done here. We've shown that in the past two years. That's not going to wane. It just wasn't to be this time around.”

Jones accepts that Hogg’s dismissal for a shoulder smash to Dan Biggar’s chin changed the game on Saturday but he was pleased that Wales were clinical with George North and Jamie Roberts grabbing two tries each and Liam Williams, Toby Faletau and Rhodri Williams claiming one apiece.

“When the opposition go down to 14 men there are going to be more opportunities,” said the 28-year-old.

“It was pleasing we were so clinical, but it was also pleasing that a number of boys took their opportunities.

“Rhod Williams came on at nine, Rhod Jones started at three and Ken Owens figured at hooker, then Hooky came off the bench.

“And look at the front row we were able to bring on. So it's quite pleasing people can fill in different roles. It's great for the squad that young people are putting their hands up; it's great for competition in the squad with the World Cup next year.”

Next up for Wales, however, is the summer tour of South Africa and Jones knows face another tough test against the Southern Hemisphere giants.

“It's going to be a difficult ask,” he said. “You can chuck in all the stats you want about being jaded. We are going to get tired, anyway, because it's the end of the season. Summer tours are difficult from that point of view, anyway.”?

Comments

BobEvams2014
11:06am Mon 17 Mar 14

There have been calls for the expulsion of Wales from this tournament , because of the unsporting, disgraceful behaviour of its supporters on Saturday night, there were reports of jubilation in many City Centres as Ireland won the tournament, this was not celebrating the Irish win - but the fact the England did not win.

People in Wales should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting our wonderfull benevolant nieghbour, and should be stripped of having their own team to support in future and Wales should be expelled from the 6 Nations and all future world cups

There have been calls for the expulsion of Wales from this tournament , because of the unsporting, disgraceful behaviour of its supporters on Saturday night, there were reports of jubilation in many City Centres as Ireland won the tournament, this was not celebrating the Irish win - but the fact the England did not win.
People in Wales should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting our wonderfull benevolant nieghbour, and should be stripped of having their own team to support in future and Wales should be expelled from the 6 Nations and all future world cupsBobEvams2014

There have been calls for the expulsion of Wales from this tournament , because of the unsporting, disgraceful behaviour of its supporters on Saturday night, there were reports of jubilation in many City Centres as Ireland won the tournament, this was not celebrating the Irish win - but the fact the England did not win.

People in Wales should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting our wonderfull benevolant nieghbour, and should be stripped of having their own team to support in future and Wales should be expelled from the 6 Nations and all future world cups

Score: -13

the dork
1:00pm Mon 17 Mar 14

OK Alun Wyn but it is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish!

OK Alun Wyn but it is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish!the dork

OK Alun Wyn but it is better than a slap in the face with a wet fish!

Score: 2

corpardguy
1:27am Tue 18 Mar 14

Exactly the right attitude from AWJ. Wales are better than the three home wins suggest but not as good as some supporters think. We STILL are not competitive with the SH teams on a regular basis, and with our small pool of talent and the number of games the top talents are playing they are in for a short existence at the top.
I believe AWJ, Falateau, Jones and Gethin should be rested from the SA tour and held for the world cup.

Exactly the right attitude from AWJ. Wales are better than the three home wins suggest but not as good as some supporters think. We STILL are not competitive with the SH teams on a regular basis, and with our small pool of talent and the number of games the top talents are playing they are in for a short existence at the top.
I believe AWJ, Falateau, Jones and Gethin should be rested from the SA tour and held for the world cup.corpardguy

Exactly the right attitude from AWJ. Wales are better than the three home wins suggest but not as good as some supporters think. We STILL are not competitive with the SH teams on a regular basis, and with our small pool of talent and the number of games the top talents are playing they are in for a short existence at the top.
I believe AWJ, Falateau, Jones and Gethin should be rested from the SA tour and held for the world cup.

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